Photos | Sorek Cave

Sorek Cave is at the western end of American Independence Park, just east of Beit Shemesh. It has many stalactites and stalagmites.

I prepared for this "photo shoot" by coming on Friday (the only day when photography is allowed) and bringing a tripod. Nearly all of these photos were taken using the tripod, and with the camera in Timer mode to avoid shaking it. The photos actually look better than the reality, as they show more light than was actually there. I refrained from using the flash in order to get the nice yellow colors that you see below, and to avoid harsh shadows.

My dedication notwithstanding, there was an even more serious photographer there. He had a professional digital camera (it looked like a Nikon D1), a massive tripod, and the bag-of-many-pockets beloved of professional photographers everywhere. I watched enviously as he spent 15 minutes arranging each photo. I don't have that kind of patience.

Sorek Cave is at the western end of American Independence Park, just east of Beit Shemesh. It has many stalactites and stalagmites. I prepared for this "photo shoot" by coming on Friday (the only day when photography is allowed) and bringing a tripod. Nearly all of these photos were taken using the tripod, and with the camera in Timer mode to avoid shaking it. The photos actually look better than the reality, as they show more light than was actually there. I refrained from using the flash in order to get the nice yellow colors that you see below, and to avoid harsh shadows. My dedication notwithstanding, there was an even more serious photographer there. He had a professional digital camera (it looked like a Nikon D1), a massive tripod, and the bag-of-many-pockets beloved of professional photographers everywhere. I watched enviously as he spent 15 minutes arranging each photo. I don't have that kind of patience.


		This "wall" is a combination of several pillars

Stalactites grow only where cracks in the rock allow water to enter

		Stalactites can have different colors, depending on the minerals in the water that created them

A wide view of part of the cave and the walkway		This pillar is made up of lots of "elephant's-ear" stalactites, which form when the water drips down at an angle

Just a little more effort!